Flame deflectors



Dec. 20, 1960 J. T. ALGER FLAME DEFLECTORS Filed Nov 26, 1958 INVENTOR. Jerry I Alger BY Q :z flAJ ai W44? flziormgys FIG, 1

United States Patent FLAME DEFLECTORS Jerry T. Alger, Chicago, 111., assignor, by mesne assignments, to Configured Tube Products Co., St. Louis, Mo., a corporation of Missouri 4 This invention relates to burners for gas or other suitable fuel, and pertains particularly to burners equipped with flame deflectors for producing a flame of a particular size and shape.

One object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved flame deflector arrangement for producing a flare which is elongated and extremely thin.

A further object is to provide a new and improved flame deflector flame arrangement of the foregoing character which is provided with means for stabilizing and protecting the flame against the action of secondary air currents.

Another object is to provide a new and improved flame deflector construction whereby the shape of the flame may be changed by making minor changes in the shape of the flame deflector.

It is another object to provide a new and improved flame deflector having means for producing small retaining flames extending laterally from the base of the main flame, together with means for stabilizing both the retaining flames and the main flame.

In various respects, the present invention may be regarded as an improvement upon the invention disclosed ice burner tube 12 extending horizontally. While the horizontal position is preferable, the burner may be employed in other positions for various applications.

In general, the illustrated burner 10 is provided with a flame shaping arrangement 26 comprising a flame deflector 28 and a secondary air deflector 30. The flame deflector 28 produces a main flame 32 which is generally vertical and extremely thin or flat. The flame 32 slants upwardly and outwardly from the deflector 28. The air deflector 3tltends to stabilize the base of the flame 32 against the action of currents of secondary air.

As shown, the flame deflector 28 comprises a body 34 made of sheet metal or the like. The body 34 is formed with a cylindrically curved mounting portion or leg 36 for securing the flame deflector 28 to the mixture tube 12. The mounting leg 36 may be welded or otherwise suitably secured to the lower portion of the burner tube 12, as indicated by the welds 38.

It will be seen that the body 34 of the flame deflector 28 is generally channel-shaped. Thus, the body 34 comprises left and right-hand side wall flanges 40, connected together at their lower edges by a bottom wall 42. It will be apparent that the flanges 40 and the bottom wall 42 extend generally in a longitudinal direction with respect to the axis of the burner tube 12. The bottom wall 42 extends outwardly from the front end of the burner tube 12. As shown in Fig. 2, theillustrated bottom wall 42 has a width which tapers in a forward. direction.

The side wall flanges 40 have inner or lower portions 44 which extend upwardly from the bottom wall 42 and converge toward each other. The lower portions 44 'rnerg'e into generally parallel outer or upper portions 46. vAt

and claimed in the present applicants co-pending application Serial Number 652,901, filed April 15, 1957, entitled .Flarne Deflector, now Patent No. 2,877,837.

Further objects and advantages of the present inveniion will be apparent from the following description, taken with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. '1 is an elevational view of a burner equipped with a flame deflecting arrangement to be described as an illustrative embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the burner of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an elevational view showing the front end-of the burner of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view showing the main flam deflecting member employed on the burner of Figs. 1-3. Fig. 5 is a fragmentary elevational view, similar to Fig. 1, but showing a modified construction.

It will be seen that Fig. 1 illustrates a burner 10 which may be employed to burn gas or other suitable fuel. The burner 10 comprises a mixture tube 12 adapted to mix the gas with air so as to form a combustible mixture. At its rear end, the tube 12 has an enlarged open ended portion 14 which is generally bell-shape. Gas is introduced into the tube 12 by means of a nozzle 16 which is directed axially into the bell-shaped portion 14. In front of the bell-shaped portion14 the tube 12 has a relatively constricted venturi portion or throat 18. The passage of the gas along the venturi portion 18 draws air into the rear end of the bell-shaped portion 14.

The burner tube 12 has a forwardly flaring portion 20 which extends forwardly from the venturi throat 18 and increases gradually in diameter. Near its front end,

the tube 12 has a portion 22 which is substantially cylindrical. The extreme front end ofthe tube 12-is formed witha smoothly'curved, inturned flange 22 formed the junction between the flower and. upper portions ,44 and 46, each side wall flange 40 is bent along a line 48 which slopes downwardly toward the outer end of the flame deflector 28. With this arrangement, the flame deflector 28 has a relatively wide opening 50 at its rear end, adapted to receive the combustible mixture from the discharge portion 24 of the mixture tube 12. The space between the flanges 40 tapers in a forward direction to a relatively narrow opening or slot 52 at the front of the flanges 40. A slot 54 of similar width is formed between the upper edges of the flanges 40. g

It will be seen that the side wall flanges 40 are disposed with their rear edges spaced a short distance in front of the mixture tube 12. The rear edges of the flanges 40 overlap opposite portions of the discharge port 24. Thus, most of the combustible mixture is intercepted between the flanges 40 and is squeezed upwardly and forwardly to form the thin vertical main flame 32.

The rear edges of the illustrated side wall flanges 40 are formed with laterally projecting ears 56, extending generally at right angles to the axis of the burner tube 12. The ears deflect portions of the mixture laterally, so as to form small laterally extending flames 58 adjacent the base of the main flame 32. The small lateral flames 58 tend to retain the main flame in its normal pos'tion on the flame deflector 28. Moreover, the lateral deflection of portions of the combustible mixture makes it easier to light the burner with a lighter disposed laterally of the burner. Thus, for example, several of the burners may be disposed in a row, with the burner tubes parallel. A single lighter at either end of the row will be effective to light all of the burners, because each burner will light the adjacent burner.

It will be observed that the height of the side wall flanges 40 is substantially greater than the diameter-of the discharge port 24. Moreover, the height of. .the flanges 40 is considerably greater than the spacing therebetween. This arrangement produces an extremely thin orflatflame. r

Generally triangular web portions 60 are provided {to 60 shield the side flames andth'e basezof the main flame- 32 from currents of secondaryair coming from the sides of the burner tube 12. Of course, the mounting leg-36 shields the flames from secondary air coming from be low the burner tube. Thus, the portions 36 and 60 tend to prevent the flames from operating in a noisy and unstable manner; 7 i

The secondary air deflector 30 protects the flames 32 and 58 from currentsofs'econdary air coming along the upper portion ofthe burnerit'ube 12. Thus, the deflector 30 slants" upwardly and'outwardly from the upper portion of the burner tube 12. It will be seen that the air deflector 30'is spaced from but rather closely adjacent the inner ends of the side wall flanges 40. At its rear upper corner, each side wall flange 40 has "a diagonal or slanting edge 62. The air deflector 30 slants upwardly beyond the outer end of the burner tube 12 and overlies the edges 62, in spaced relation thereto. The lower, rear portion of the air deflector 30 is formed into a cylindrically curved mounting leg 64, which may be welded or otherwise suitably secured to the burner tube 12, as'indicated by the welds 66.

It will be apparent that the deflector 30 diverts-the secondary air upwardly, away from the inner portions of the flanges 40 and theears 56. Thus, the deflector 30- prevents the base portions of the flames 32 and 58 from beingnnduly agitated by the secondary air. The burner iszthu's enabled to operate'in a quiet, stable-manner.

It has been found thatthe'illustratedf burner operates eflicient'ly; quietly and with a high degree ofstability. Moreovengthe flame deflector arrangement provides a thin, generally oval shaped flame which is advantageous for many applications. As shown in Fig. '5', the shape of the flame may be varied by modifying the flame deflector to a slight extent. Thus, Fig. illustrates a flame deflector 28a which is the same as that shown in Figs. 1-4, except that the relative sizes of the lower and upper portions 44a and 46a on the side wall flanges 40a have been changed. It will be seen that the lower portions 44a are smaller and the upper portions 46a are larger than the corresponding portions 44 and 46 shown in Fig. '1. Thus, the slanting bend line 48a, between the portions 44a and 46a, has been moved downwardly. The angle between the line and the bottom wall 42a has been increased. These changes tend to produce a main flame 32a which is shorter and higher than the flame shown in Fig. 1. As the angle of, the line 48a increases, the length of the cavity within the walls 42 and 44a decreases. This reduces the supply of gas-air mixture to the end of the flame spreader. The resultant increase in the area of the walls 460 establishes additional resistance to the flow of the mixture to the slot 52, causing the shortening of the flame. .Since the supply of gasair mixture and the size of the slots 52 and 54 have remained constant, the mixture which has been restricted from the slot portion 52 is now forced through the slot portion 54, causing an increase in the height of the flame.

In addition to promoting quiet, eflicient operation, the illustrated flame deflectors minimize the chance that the flamewill flash back into the burner tube'12. Thus, the provision of the flame deflecting arrangements produces burners twhichwill operate in an excellent manner in awide variety of applications, even under adverse conditions,

Various other modifications, alternative constructions and .equivalentsmaylbe employed without departing from the true spirit and scope of the invention, as. exemplified in the foregoing description and. dcfineddn. the iollowiug claims,

4 I-clairnz- 1. In a burner, the combination comprising a horizontal mixture tube having an axial discharge port at one end, a flame deflector mounted on said end of said mixture tube and having a body spaced outwardly in front of said port, said body being generally channelshaped and extending generally longitudinally with respect to the axis-of said port, said body having an elongated bottom wall, said body having spaced left and right-hand sidewall flanges extending in a, generally upward direction from said. bottom wall, the height 'of said side wall flanges being greater than the diameter of said discharge port; the spacing between said side wall flanges being substantially less than-the diameter of said discharge port, generally vertical ears formed laterally away from each other in opposite directions from said respective left and right-hand side wall flanges at the inner ends thereof, said-ears being near the discharge port but spaced in front thereof, said ears overlapping opposite portions of said port and thereby being in the path of the mixture discharged therefrom to deflect portions of the mixture laterally to form small laterally directedside flames, saidflame-deflector having amount-- ing portion extending between said bottom wall andsaid mixture tube and secured to said-mixture tube, said deflector having web portions extending between said mounting portion-and the lower edges oi said ears, said webport-ions beingsloped upwardly in opposite lateral directions to direct the small side flames upwardly and stabilize said'flames, said sidewall flanges having lower! portions converging-upwardly toward each other and gen erally parallel upper portions for p'roducin'g a thinrlong mainflame extending upwardly and-outwardly from said sidewall flanges, said upperand lower portions ofceach side wall flange being integrally joinedalong .a bend line slopingdownwardly in an outward direction, said bottom wall tapering in width in an outward direction to flat ten the main flame, and a stabilizing deflector secured to the upper portion ofsaid mixture tube adjacent the outer end thereof and sloping upwardly in an outward dis motion in spaced relation to the inner ends of said side wall flanges for deflecting secondary air upwardly and laterally and thereby stabilizing the main flame and the small side flames.

2. A flame deflector for use on a generally horizontal burner tube with an axial dischargeport, saidflame deflector comprising a body adapted to be mounted on the end of the-burner tube in front of the port inouttwardly spaced relation. thereto, said body being generally channel-shaped and having an elongated generally longitudinal bottom wall extending from the port, said bottom wall tapering outwardly in width, saidbody having spaced generally longitudinal left and right-hand side wall flanges extending in a generally upward. direction from said bottom wall, said side wall flanges being greater in height than the spacing therebetween, said side wall flanges having lower portions converging upwardly toward each other and generally parallel upper portions to form a. thin outwardly extending upwardly slanting generally vertical main flame, left and righthand generally vertical. ears formedlaterally away from each other in opposite directions from said respective left and right-hand sidewall flanges at the inner ends thereof to deflect portions of the combustible mixture laterally to form. small side flames, a cylindrically curved mounting leg extending rearwardly from said bottom wall and adapted to be secured to the burner tube, and left and righthand laterally extending upwardly inclined web portions extending between said mounting' lfig' and the lower edges of s'a'itl ears to sfibilizerthecside-zfldmee and-direct them at upwardly inclined. angles,

3. A flame deflector for use on a burner tube with an axial dischargeport', said flamedeflector comprising agbody; adapted ,to be mounted on the outerendof'the burner tube in front ofthe'port and in outwardly spaced relation thereto, said body being generally channel-shaped and having an elongated generally longitudinal deflector wall adapted to extend outwardly from the port, said body having spaced generally longitudinal left and righthand side wall flanges extending in one direction from said deflector wall, said side wall flanges being Wider in said direction than the spacing therebetween, said side wall flanges having inner portions converging toward each other from said deflector wall and merging into generally parallel outer portions to produce a thin flame extending outwardly and slanting away from said deflector wall, left and right-hand ears formed laterally away from each other in opposite directions from said respective left and right-hand side wall flanges at the inner ends thereof, said ears extending generally transversely with respect to the longitudinal direction of said side wall flanges to form small laterally directed side flames, a mounting portion extending rearwardly from said deflector wall and adapted to be secured to the burner tube, and left and right-hand web portions extending between said mounting portions and said respective left and right-hand ears to stabilize the small laterally directed side flames.

4. A flame deflector for use on a generally horizontal burner tube with an axial discharge port, said flame deflector comprising a body adapted to be mounted on the end of the burner tube in front of the port in outwardly spaced relation thereto, said body being generally channel-shaped and having an elongated generally longitudinal bottom wall with spaced generally longitudinal left and right-hand side wall flanges extending in a generally upward direction from said bottom wall to form a thin vertical main flame, said side wall flanges being greater in height than the spacing therebetween, left and right-hand generally vertical ears formed laterally away from each other in opposite directions from said respective left and right-hand side wall flanges at the inner ends thereof to deflect portions of the combustible mixture laterally to form small side flames, mounting leg extending rearwardly from said bottom wall and adapted to be secured to the burner tube, and left and right-hand laterally extending upwardly inclined web portions extending between said mounting leg and the lower edges of said ears to stabilize the side flames and direct them at upwardly inclined angles, each of said web portions constituting a slanting continuation of substantially the entire lower edge of the corresponding ear.

5. In a burner, the combination comprising a horizontal mixture tube having an axial discharge port at one end, a flame deflector mounted on said end of said mixture tube and having a body spaced outwardly in front of said port, said body being generally channelshaped and extending generally longitudinally with respect to the axis of said port, said body having an elongated bottom wall, said body having spaced left and right-hand side wall flanges extending in a generally upward direction from said bottom wall, the height of said side wall flanges being greater than the diameter of said discharge port, the spacing between said side wall flanges being substantially less than the diameter of said discharge port, generally vertical ears formed laterally away from each other in opposite directions from said respective left and right-hand side wall flanges at the inner ends thereof, said ears being near the discharge port but spaced in front thereof, said ears overlapping opposite portions of said port and thereby being in the path of the mixture discharged therefrom to deflect portions of the mixture laterally to form small laterally directed side flames, said flame deflector having a mounting portion extending between said bottom wall and said mixture tube and secured to said mixture tube, and a stabilizing deflector secured to the upper portion of said mixture tube adjacent the outer end thereof and sloping upwardly in an outward direction in closely spaced relation to the inner ends of said side wall flanges for deflecting secondary air upwardly and laterally and thereby stabilizing the main flame and the small side flames.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,853,193 Bicknell Apr. 12, 1932 2,061,562 Cartter Nov. 24, 1936 2,877,837 Alger Mar. 17, 1959 

